Corn-topper.



T. S. FLETCHER.

CORN TOPPER. APPLICATION FILED JAN-23.1917.

- Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

un'rr u THOMAS S. PLETCHER, OF OCHILTREE, TEXAS.

CORN-TOFFEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 28, 1917..

Application filed January 23, 1917. Serial No. 143,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. PLETCI-IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ochiltree, in the county of Ochiltree. and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CornToppers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to toppers or headers for cutting off the heads of Kafir corn, milo maize, and other similar grain plants; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a corn topper constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Two conveyer frames 2 are provided and arranged parallel to each other with a longitudinal space 3 between them. Braces 4; are provided between the two frames for holding them in place, and the frames are supported in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position by means of legs 5. Each frame 2 preferably consists of a pair of angle-shaped side bars 6 having crosspieces 7 at suitable intervals between them.

Each conveyer frame 2 has a roller 8 secured on a shaft 9 which is journaled in suitable bearings at the upper and rear end of the machine. The shaft 9 is common to the rollers 8 of both conveyers, and it has a driving pulley 10 secured on its middle part. Rollers 12 are secured on shafts 14 which are journaled at the other end portion of the conveyer frames. Each conveyer has an endless conveyer apron 13 which passes over the rollers 8 and 12, and which is driven continuously in the direction of the straight arrow in Fig. 1.

A cutter shaft 15 is provided and is journaled in any suitable bearings 16, and is arranged crosswise over the middle portions of the conveyers.

A pulley or wheel 17 is secured on the shaft 15 for driving it in any approved way, and in the direction of the curved arrow in Fig. 1. A belt pulley 18 is secured on the middle part of the shaft 15, and 19 is a crossed belt which passes over the pulleys 18 and 10 and drives the conveyers, but any other approved means may be used for driving purposes. 7

The shaft 15 has two circular cutters or saws 20 secured on its middle part, in the space 3, and at a suitable distance apart. A curved shield 21 of spring metal has its rear end portion secured to the rear crossbar or brace 4:, and extends upwardly and forwardly over the two cutters, and this shield prevents any of the cut heads from being thrown upwardly out of the machine.

A horizontal forwardly projecting plate 22 is formed on the middle part of the shield in front of the cutters, and 2 1 are two arms which are formed at the sides of the shield, and which are curved downwardly from its front end and which extend rearwardly under the cutter shaft. A slot or hole 25 is formed in the rear part of the shield for the passage of the crossed belt 19.

The bundles of corn are placed on the rear end portions of the conveyers by two men who stand one on each side of the machine. The bundles are carried to the cutters by the conveyers, and are held down by the arms 24 while the heads are being cut off by the cutters. The heads fall between the two conveyers and are fed to any suitable threshing machine. The remaining portions of the bundles are stacked 01' carted away for use as fodder.

The use of two conveyers with the cutters arranged between them enables a sufficient quantity of heads to be cut off to supply a large threshing machine, and the supply of heads is continuous. The two men supply the bundles to the cutters without intermis sion, and independently of and in full view of each other, which is not practicable with a machine using a single cutter or with cutters and conveyers otherwise arranged.

What I claim is:

1. In a corn topper, a pair of endless conveyers arranged side by side with av space between them and having apron rollers at their rear ends, a driving shaft common to the two apron rollers, a driving wheel on the middle part of the said shaft in the space between the two conveyers, a revoluble shaft journaled crosswise of and above the middle portions of the said conveyers, two cutters secured on the last said shaft and arranged to work in the space between the two conveyers, a driving wheel secured on the shaft between the two cutters, and a flexible driving device passing over the said driving wheels.

2. In a corn topper, a pair of endless conveyers arranged side by side with a space between them and having apron rollers at their rear ends, a driving shaft having the said apron rollers secured on it,'a driving wheel secured on the said shaft in the space between the two conveyers, a cutter shaft journaled above the said conveyers, two cutters secured on the cutter shaft and arranged in the space between the two conveyers, a shield having its rear end secured behind the cutters and extending over them and having an opening in its rear portion, a driving wheel secured on the cutter shaft between the two cutters, and a flexible driving device passing over the said wheels and working through the said opening in the shield. V V

3. In a corn topper, a pair of endless conveyers arranged side by side with a space between them, two revoluble cutters arranged in the space between the pair of conveyers, a shield having its rear end secured behind the cutters, said shield extending forwardly over the cutters and having spring arms at its sides which project downwardly from its front part and extend rearwardly under and substantially parallel to said conveyers and which hold the bundles against the conveyers while the heads are being cut, and means for driving the said cutters and conveyers.

In testimony signature.

THOMAS S. FLETCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

whereof I have afiixed my 

